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OK, so I'm working on a budget-ish chick version of Boba Fett, with the goal that it be ready by Halloween. Limited time and cash will be a challenge, but my enthusiasm will hopefully make up for some of that. Plus, not having to make it screen perfect will make life a lot easier on me.

BUCKET:
- um, hoping to get an off-cast or less-loved version from one of you lot; being a girl I have a smaller head and smaller frame than the average Boba connoisseur, so I might lean toward a Rubies (and repaint it) even though they don't look so hot.

PANTS:
Today I went on a Value Village (do you guys have that in the US?) raid and actually found some great pants for the bottom. They fit well but will need the addition of extra pouches, weathering etc. The colour is a khaki green but I'll have to test out bleaching on a scrap portion from them. They could stay the same colour and I could adapt the costume around them, orI could use them to make a pattern, since the fit is superb. At 5.99 they were basically the same price as a pattern!

TOP (soft):
so, also at value village, I found a small wetsuit that fits like a dream. It has the right amount of structure, stretchiness, etc. and I though I know I can't paint that neoprene, I could use it as a pattern if I could get neoprene in that colour (plus, I can use the wetsuit for surfing anyway!). Neoprene fabric would be a nice stable base in case the chest plates are heavy, but I'm worried about doing the seams on a regular sewing machine, and I don't know if it would come in the right colour. If it doesn't work out, I'll just make the pattern from the suit in something stretchy but non-neopreney. It might look good in canvas, but the fit would have to be so perfectly tailored and I don't think I'm capable of that yet.

Aiming to have the long sleeves (with the short-sleeve overlay), tall neck cuff, and crop just at the base of my rib cage, potentially with a longer back panel.

CAPE:

probably won't do the red, but will go ROTJ stylz with a shelter half or other distressed green canvas fabric.

ARMOUR (hard):
all to be made of sintra/bondo/... or bought on the cheap from DH people; for the femm shapes, live casting would be ideal but I'm not set up for that. So instead, might use a female half-mannequin as others have done. Need all of:

UTILITY BELT:
Can't afford a 99centtaco special, though they are gorgeous. There are some $50 ones from evolution and costumebase. Not sure if there are any sig diffs between the two. [Haha I almost typed 'sig figs.' = Geek!]

BOOTS:
I've got the base for the boots, which are pretty similar to the reference pic though I'll have to add piping and spikes.

GLOVES:
I found some white ones and cream ones, lady-specific, at VV. Gotta add some grey patches and other details to make them more boba-y, as they are distinctly feminine and not very "bounty hunter" at present.

GAUNTLETS:
These seem key, but they could look really bad if I tried to scratch build them. Probably another kit to purchase. That, or find someone who has ones they aren't pleased with, and convince them to let go of them

WEAPONS:
- I bought a cool "Bakugan" toy that I think could be made into a thermal detonator easily enough: http://www.kookerkids.com/features/i...era_closed.jpg
- have some toy guns that I'll mash together into a blaster, but I can't seem to get hold of a Rebel Blaster (Hasbro) for parts since those Ebay folks won't ship a toy 'gun' across the border to Canada. It would have been nice to have for the barrel but I'll just scratch build that.

JETPACK:
this one could be a scratch build. probably would go with cardboard/bondo; i might leave it until last as it is not critical though would be an awesome addition.

overall, lots to buy, build, and paint; I'll be in the Cargo Hold WTB'ing tonnes of stuff I'm sure, in the near future. Any advice graciously welcomed!

BUCKET update:
er just bought a DP 1996er. it's the least ****** of the narrow buckets that are readily available, or so I heard. will have to strip/sand/prime and paint it, which is more work than starting with a casted one of course, but worth it for the better fit. I hope. Definitely gonna do the layered painting technique since that will look truest to natural wear.

Need to get a green visor. Gonna do what TK409 said and go here for a dark green polycarbonate shield: http://www.rjsafety.com/hp3.html if they'll just ship to Canadia! I'll call tomorrow and find out.

the don post 95 and 96 are two of the nicer mass produced boba helmets, it all went to hell in 97 though, and when rubies picked them up it just got worse.

i'd suggest that for your chest armor you should basically mold the plates to the shape of a deep cleavage push up bra then use the center diamond like a front clasp. if you're using sintra (or whatever they call closed cell pvc in canada) it can be heated to a malleable state in boiling water. though i'd say use two pieces for each side to cut down on the number of compound curves you'll need. then glue them together and bondo the seam.

the cod should be cut almost like a bikini.

to keep the feminine look, keep your backplate cut small, maybe just a few inches below the shoulder blades.

if you're handy with visualizing how things fold you can probably make the belt and belt pouches out of vinyl with cardboard inserts for them to keep their shape.

no need for a thermal detonator, boba disintigrates things, he doesn't mess with blowing them up.

if you're gong for the same look as the statue a jetpack wouldn't be necessary, but if you do make one reduce the size quite a bit, almost like a kids jetpack. it'll be lighter, sit better on the lack of armor on your back, and just plain look cute.

Last edited by saint nasty; Aug 8, 2009 at 5:32 AM.
Reason: had a few more ideas to add

For the ammo belt you could check and see if Taco has any kits left. I think they were around $50 or so but you'll have to dye the leather and assemble them completely. But since he just sold his die cutter for the pouch I'd imagine he's got none left. Your other option for making your own ammo belt is Batninja's tutorial:

not so good with the spacial/folding stuff. guys have a better innate ability in that department, and I wouldn't mind shelling out for a pre-made ammo belt since that'll save a lot of labour. And, if I get a decent one, it can also do double-duty with my steampunk gear.

i like the idea of a much smaller jet pack and back plate to suit. cardboard time!

these are what the foam board became. cut them up to about 2.5" squares then triple stacked them. these are what i'm going to fold the pouch around.

now i have all the patterns cut.

one down, five to go.

things i didn't show:

1 - the strap for the belt, it's just a long *** strap right now. i need to get to my firends place for her to sew it to the right size.
2 - i hand stitched a small square of elastic onto the back of the pouch for it to attach to the belt.
3 - gluing it all together. my hands were kind of busy trying not to get glued to the pouch.

I'm making a similar costume for Halloween as well, on the other side of the country. Did you decide to go with sintra or a trash can? I'm wondering what will allow for more curve around the bust. Can't wait to see yr progress!

I was working on one of these for my wife but since I lost interest. I have a set of Sintra Armor, a female version belt made by taco, bradleyfett armor and a blaster that's about done if you're interested? I've been meaning to put it up in the cargo hold.

my friends are going to **** themselves when they see it. it's nowhere near the quality that you guys crank out, but thanks to all the templates and tips here, it ain't a pile of **** either! okay, the jetpack is pretty **** because I had to do that in a super hurry.

I can't believe that I got as much done as I did, with almost zero tools, no workshop, no help, spray painting in a room with beige carpets (eep!). I'm especially proud of my trashcan shoulder bells. But you'll see! The whole thing looks nothing like the inspiration, but it's definitely Boba, and you can definitely tell it's a girl under there.

Pictures soon! I'll have someone to do it for me tomorrow or Saturday and post ASAP. It's a bit cumbersome to do the mirror-shot stuff myself while wearing all that stuff, so my photographer friend is gonna help me out, thankfully!

Today I finished the top so it was the first time I put the gear on. You should have heard the giggles!